Survey for Fencing

I am buying a new home and will be fencing in the yard immediately after closing. I have been asked if I want a survey of the property done for closing. My question is, when I come to Home Depot for them to do the fencing, will they do a survey of the property to see where the fence can legally go or will I have to provide them with a survey? Trying to decide if I should pay for the survey now when Home Depot may require it to be surveyed again for the fencing.

As per my conversation with the Home Depot Installation office, they said that it is the homeowners responsibility to obtain the survey, contact "Call Before You Dig" and pull the necessary permits before Home Depot comes out--this info will be discussed with you during your initial install consultation.

The "Call Before You Dig" law requires that before beginning any excavation one must call the Utilities Protection Center at 811 ( or 1-800-282-7411) to request an underground locator service. Calling 811 before every digging job gets your underground utility lines marked for free and helps prevent undesired consequences. For more information, visit www.gaupc.com.

So, if your realtor or lawyer asked you if you wanted a survey, say yes and have it done, even if you don't have the fence done, it's a good idea to see where your property boundary lines exist.

A survey is typically part of the paperwork associated with purchasing a home and is usually required by the title agency and/or the lender. A call to the local code enforcement folks (or visiting their website) will tell you what information they require for issuing a fence permit and what restrictions they place on fences. If they require a survey, then ask how recent it needs to be.

You should also check the property deed for any restrictions on fences. Especially with newer developments (sub-divisions), home owner associations often limit the fence placement (e.g., backyard only) as well as height, style, and fence material.